Lineman's pole strap assembly

Abstract

A pole strap assembly ( 10 ) is provided for use in climbing a utility pole ( 22 ), and includes an outer strap ( 12 ) including opposite end portions ( 32,34 ) connected by an intermediate portion ( 20 ); and an elongate wear member ( 30 ) attached to and extending over at least part of the intermediate portion ( 20 ) of the outer strap ( 12 ), wherein the wear member ( 30 ) does not extend over the end portions ( 32,34 ), and the outer strap ( 12 ) has a total length L O and the elongate wear member ( 30 ) has a length L I , with the length L O being no greater than twice the length L I .

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A pole strap assembly for use in climbing a utility pole, the pole strap assembly comprising:
 an outer strap to wrap around a far side of a pole from a user utilizing the pole strap assembly, the outer strap including opposite end portions connected by an intermediate portion; and 
 an elongate wear member attached to and extending over at least part of the intermediate portion of the outer strap to engage the far side of the pole, wherein the wear member does not extend over the end portions, and the outer strap has a total length LO and the elongate wear member has a length LI, with the length LO being no greater than twice the length LI. 
 
     
     
       2. The pole strap assembly of  claim 1  wherein the LO is about 16 inches greater than LI. 
     
     
       3. The pole strap assembly of  claim 1  wherein the ratio of LO/LI is about 1.8. 
     
     
       4. The pole strap assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of the end portions has a length LE that is about 7 inches. 
     
     
       5. The pole strap assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a pair of slides, each slide mounted to translate along a corresponding one of the opposite end portions of the outer strap. 
     
     
       6. The pole strap assembly of  claim 5  further comprising a cross strap to extend across a near side of a pole opposite from the far side of a pole, the cross strap having a first end carried on one of the slides to allow movement of the first end along the outer strap and an opposite end carried on the other of the slides to allow movement of the opposite end along the outer strap. 
     
     
       7. The pole strap assembly of  claim 6  further comprising at least one bias member mounted between the slides and the outer strap to urge translation of the slides toward each other along the outer strap. 
     
     
       8. A pole strap assembly for use in climbing a utility pole, the pole strap assembly comprising:
 an outer strap to wrap around a far side of a pole from a user utilizing the pole strap assembly, the outer strap including opposite end portions connected by an intermediate portion; 
 an elongate wear member attached to and extending over at least part of the intermediate portion of the outer strap to engage the far side of the pole, wherein the wear member does not extend over the end portions, and the outer strap has a total length LO and the elongate wear member has a length LI, with the length LO being no greater than twice the length LI; 
 a pair of slides, each slide mounted to translate along a corresponding one of the opposite end portions of the outer strap; 
 a cross strap to extend across a near side of a pole opposite from the far side of a pole, the cross strap having a first end carried on one of the slides to allow movement of the first end along the outer strap and an opposite end carried on the other of the slides to allow movement of the opposite end along the outer strap; 
 at least one bias member mounted between the slides and the outer strap to urge translation of the slides toward each other along the outer strap; and 
 at least one elongate protective cover fixed on the outer strap and extending over the at least one bias member, the protective cover includes first and second elongate wall members fixed to the outer strap along opposite lateral sides of the at least one bias member, with the first and second elongate wall members having a first state wherein they are connected to each other to extend over the at least one bias member and a second state wherein they are disconnected from each other to allow inspection of the at least one elongate bias member. 
 
     
     
       9. The pole strap assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a pair of adjustable strap assemblies fixed to opposite ends of the outer strap and having adjustable lengths, each of adjustable strap assemblies including a tension buckle fixed to one of the opposite ends of the outer strap, a releasable connector to connect to a harness or belt worn by a user, and an adjustment strap extending between the tension buckle and the releasable connector, the adjustment strap having an end threaded through a bite on the tension buckle to extend toward the releasable connector such that movement of the end toward the releasable connector shortens the length of the adjustable strap assembly. 
     
     
       10. A pole strap assembly for use in climbing a utility pole, the pole strap assembly comprising:
 an outer strap to wrap around a far side of a pole from a user utilizing the pole strap assembly, the outer strap including opposite end portions connected by an intermediate portion; 
 a cross strap connected to the outer strap to wrap around a near side of the pole, the cross strap having a first end attached to a one of the end portions of the outer strap and a second end extending through a cam buckle attached to the other of the end portions of the outer strap, the second end threaded through a bite on the cam buckle configured for single handed operation by a user to loosen the bite to allow the cross strap to move freely though the cam buckle for one handed adjustment of the cross strap; and 
 further comprising an elongate wear member attached to and extending over at least part of the intermediate portion of the outer strap to engage the far side of the pole, wherein the wear member does not extend over the end portions, and the outer strap has a total length LO and the elongate wear member has a length LI, with the length LO being no greater than twice the length LI. 
 
     
     
       11. The pole strap assembly of  claim 10  further comprising a pair of slides, each slide mounted to translate along a corresponding one of the opposite end portions of the outer strap, the first end of the cross strap attached to the one of the end portions by one of the slides the cam buckle attached to the other of the end portions by the other one of the slides. 
     
     
       12. The pole strap assembly of  claim 11  further comprising at least one bias member mounted between the slides and the outer strap to urge translation of the slides toward each other along the outer strap. 
     
     
       13. The pole strap assembly of  claim 10  wherein the ratio of LO/LI is about 1.8. 
     
     
       14. The pole strap assembly of  claim 10  wherein each of the end portions has a length LE that is about 7 inches.